Parramatta Eels forward Ryan Matterson had a deal in place with the Gold Coast Titans for a move there, however the deal has now reportedly fallen through. Details as to why the deal fell through are not available. It means the 189 NRL game veteran will remain at Parramatta for 2026 on a salary reportedly worth $700k.
The fact a team was interested shocked me but it is disappointing as we know Matterson will not feature in 2026, even if he did it would be in a very minimal role as Ryles moves towards the likes of Moretti, Tuivaiti, Guymer and Talagi as future middles.
https://www.zerotackle.com/out-of-favour-eels-forwards-move-to-queensland-club-falls-through-228476/
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If the club wants Matto off the books have him retire and hire him as an assistant coach of one of the junior sides or as a deleopment officer spreading his contract over a two year period saving him some tax dough.
This is where the top clubs find away to create cap room , they haven't wanted Matto for over a year surely they've explored all avenues to get him off the cap.
There's no way he plays in an Eels jumper again hurry up and make it work .
We cannot force him to retire, if he retires he forfeit's his salary for 2026. Unless he medically retires which can be hard to prove if nothing there.
Do you want him as an assistant? Worth $700k? Either way if you want him gone he will be getting the money he is entitled to, that is fair. Not his fault we caved in and offered him this deal.
I don't think you understand LB the NRL allows players in the twilight of their career to retire early and take up there last years contract as a club employee assistant coach ect and it's off the cap.
He can run the gym; and no doubt would love being the blue shirt.
True but also at the same time you have to convince him to agree to it. All well and good saying "Get him to retire" when he has to agree to it too. We cannot force any player to retire. So therefore he has to agree to it in some capacity. He might feel he has up to 2-3 years of playing left and after 2026 his owed salary drops, so if he is in a role with the club he wont be getting his $700k after that, so he would need to think what he wants to do.
Hey who knows maybe he does do that but unlike Shaun Lane who hinted at doing what he is doing now at the club, Matto we are not sure what he wants to do or even he wants to be involved with the club or NRL post playing.
I didn't know that Bup, sounds like a good idea if he does do that given his circumstances.
What I thought you meant was that it amortises his income over a greater period thereby bringing his tax down and spread the cap effect over 2 to 3 years.
I don't think there is a hurry up required Bup, after the 1 Nov and the settling down, some clubs will be disappointed they missed out on someone and Matto will be hanging around the fringes and get picked up for 350/400. It may take before ot after Xmas but he will go.....Actually I would have thought he has a case for medical retirement owing to past HIA issues, has anyone thought of exploring that angle?
I'm not sure he's too interested in continuing his playing career .
if he was looking at extending his playing days he would have made more of an effort in England to either secure a contract there or play well enough to receive one in the NRL looks like he's done neither.
There's clubs probably further ahead here then we know but it looks long odds he'll play in a Eels jumper again.
Then again maybe he didn't want to be in England Bup? A player can definately want to keep playing and not want to live in England.
No they haven't they don't think like you do.
The club have been trying to move Matto for at least 18 months,multiple teams with zero success.The guy is looking like a cancer as no one has been wanting to take him on.
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